So many months ago--in fact, it must have been over a year, since I didn't have the Hughes book deal yet--I was on a panel with Robert Rummel-Hudson. Before the panel I was kinda of reticent about meeting him, because his blurb was that his daughter had some rare disease and I could not roll my eyes hard enough, try as I might.
But when I met him and learned the non-two-second version, it turned out the story was pretty interesting and was less about the disease per se but more about how dealing with this "monster" as he calls it really screws things up for everyone. And the best part is, his reaction to all of it was the exact reaction I would have had, which I didn't think was possible in this "the blind have true sight" nonsense world.
Anyway, today was the pub date of the book and I volunteered to chaperone. "Do you want to go to all the bookstores and look at it on the shelf?" I asked him.
"Um, yeah," he confessed.
I remember what that was like, before my first book, when you think your life will change forever. And maybe it does, a little, but not in the OMG way. So we hit like seven stores and took photos in each one. I have to say, it was fun if only because he was recognized twice. The first time the girl left, calling him "Roger", which made me practically die. Because it's like, yeah, I know who you are, but kinda sorta. Trust me, the book tour was all about that crap.
Then we were in Union Square and a girl is like, "Excuse me, are you..?"
And I said, "Yeah, that's him."
And she pulled out the book and was going on and Rob was taken aback, and I felt really glad for him. Of course, since I'm not his coauthor and have no need to bite my tongue, I could let loose. So while she's going on about her friend/sister living in CA being jealous about going to the book release party tomorrow, I simply asked, "Does she fuck?" No response, though whether this was ignoring me or not hearing me, I dunno. With Hughes when people met him they were so oblivious that I would literally tell them that I killed children for the taste and they heard not a word, so trapped were in they in "OMG IT'S YOU I SEE YOU ON THE TEEVEE."
In conclusion: the only thing better than celebrating your book release is with FRIENDS, especially if your friend is kind of a douche, just like you are.
3 Comments:
Hi Michael,
I definitely heard "does she fuck", but I didn't know how to respond to it. Also, yes, I was star struck. I don't normally have long conversations with someone without acknowledging everyone there. Can I blame it on Rob? :)
Anyone who has a sense of humor about themselves gets the official Michael Malice seal of approval.
Next time we meet, bring a random stranger and I'll ignore them.
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